At the age of ninety Herbert Clark Hoover, the thirty-first
President of the United States, died in his suite at the Waldorf Astoria
Hotel in New York City shortly before noon on 20 October 1964. The former
President would be accorded a State Funeral with full military honors.

At the time of Mr. Hoover's death contingency funeral plans following
policies established in 1958 and incorporating the wishes of the Hoover
family al­ready had been prepared. According to the scheduled sequence
of events, Mr. Hoover's body was to be moved under escort on 21 October
from the funeral home to St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in New York
City, where it was to remain until the funeral service took place in
the late afternoon of the 22d. On the 23d the body of the former President
was to be escorted from the church to Pennsylvania Station for movement
by special train to Washington, D.C. Upon arrival in Washington, the
casket was to be taken in procession to the Capitol, and there the former
President was to lie in state in the rotunda until the morning of 25
October. At that time the body was to be escorted to Washington National
Airport and then flown to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. From there a motor procession
would escort the body to West Branch, Iowa, Mr. Hoover's home town,
where burial would take place on the grounds of the Herbert Hoover Library
during the afternoon of the 25th.

Responsibility for arranging and conducting the ceremonies rested with
the major Army commands in which the three ceremonial sites were located.
The Commanding General, First U.S. Army, Lt. Gen. Robert W. Porter,
Jr., was responsible for the ceremonies in New York City; Maj. Gen.
Philip C. Wehle, commanding the Military District of Washington, had
charge of ceremonies in Washington; and responsibility for the ceremonies
in Iowa fell to Lt. Gen. Charles G. Dodge, the Commanding General, Fifth
US Army. General Wehle had the added responsibility of coordinating
all the ceremonies.

According to plan, trained ceremonial troops from the Washington area
were sent to New York City to assist the First Army commander as body
bearers, color guards, and part of the guard of honor. Other troops
for the guard of honor, which totaled seventy men, were provided by
First Army. The Washington con-

[263]

tingent was a joint service group of two officers and eleven enlisted
men from the Army; one officer and ten enlisted men each from the Marine
Corps, Navy, and Air Force; and one officer and eight enlisted men from
the Coast Guard. These troops left Andrews Air Force Base at 1400 and
arrived at St. Bartholomew's Church at 1630 on 20 October. Along with
the First Army guard of honor troops, they were billeted in the Community
House, adjacent to the church; their meals were provided by the First
Army Senior Noncommissioned Officer and Specialist Mess at Governors
Island.

Under police escort Mr. Hoover's body was taken from the hotel suite
to the Presbyterian Memorial Hospital for an autopsy supervised by the
First Army mortuary officer. At 1635 on the 20th the mortuary officer
and a police escort took the body to the Universal Funeral Chapel; at
2145 it was placed in the main chapel of the funeral home, and a relief
of the guard of honor was posted. The casket was left open. A few minutes
later Herbert C. Hoover, Jr., arrived; after his visit the casket was
sealed and would not be opened again.

At 0300 on 21 October, the casket, accompanied by the First Army mortuary
officer and police, was moved by hearse from the chapel to St. Bartholomew's
Church. The body bearer team, which was waiting at the church entrance,
carried it into the chancel and placed it on the replica of the Lincoln
catafalque that had been sent from Washington. A relief of the guard
of honor took post immediately. Later in the morning, at 0900, the church
was opened to the public and remained open until 1530. On 22 October
the church again was open to the public from 0900 until 1500 and from
1700 until 2100. It was closed for two hours during the afternoon for
the funeral service. Some 22,000 people paid their respects.

In executing the plans for the funeral service at St. Bartholomew's
on 22 October, a possible seating problem arose. Before Mr. Hoover's
death a list of per­sons who would be invited to attend the various
funeral ceremonies had been pre pared in the office of the Secretary
of the General Staff, First Army. Copies with later changes made by
the Hoover family had been sent to the family and to agencies involved
in the funeral arrangements. Some 1,400 invitations were issued: 1,000
by the Hoover family, 300 by the Department of State to diplomatic personnel,
and 100 by the White House for the Presidential representative and his
group. Since the invitations had not required an answer, there was no
way of estimating the number that would attend, and the church held
1,100. As it turned out, only 15 of the 300 diplomatic personnel actually
appeared at the church, and only 583 of the invitations issued by the
Hoover family were used. As a result, the church was scarcely two-thirds
full during the service.

On 21 October when President Johnson announced that he would attend
the service at St. Bartholomew's elaborate security preparations suddenly
became necessary. These preparations involved the secret service, Armed
Forces Police, and New York City Police Department and necessitated
closing the church at

[264]

1500 on 22 October while the building was thoroughly inspected before
the funeral service.

President Johnson and his party arrived at the church about 1620. Other
distinguished guests attending included Hubert H. Humphrey, Barry M.
Goldwater, William E. Miller, Thomas E. Dewey, Richard M. Nixon, John
B. Connally, and Robert F. Kennedy. In the family group were Mr. Hoover's
two sons, their wives, and the former President's six grandchildren.
The Reverend Terence J. Finlay, rector of St. Bartholomew's and personal
friend and neighbor of the Hoover family, conducted a brief funeral
service; at its conclusion, the church was reopened to the public.

On 23 October, in preparation for the motorcade to Pennsylvania Station,
troops began to assemble outside St. Bartholomew's at 0730. They included
a joint service honor cordon, which would line the church steps, a company
of cadets from the US Military Academy, and the US Military Academy
Band. (Table 25)

Members of the Hoover family and their friends arrived at the church
between 0815 and 0845. The body bearer team from the Military District
of Washington, preceded by the national color detail and the clergy
and followed by the President's flag bearer, then brought the casket
out of the church. At the top of the steps leading from the church to
Park Avenue, the body bearers halted while the band sounded ruffles
and flourishes and played "Hail to the Chief." When the band
began the hymn "Lord, Thou Hast Been Our Dwelling Place,"
the body bearers carried the casket down the steps through the honor
cordon and placed it in a hearse.

The family and friends entered automobiles, as did the escort commander,
Maj. Gen. John F. R. Seitz, Acting Commander, First Army, his staff,
the clergy, the national color detail, the personal flag bearer, and
the body bearers. The motorcade of eighteen limousines and hearse then
left for Pennsylvania Station.

At the station, the body bearers removed the casket from the hearse
and carried it to an elevator to be lowered to the track platform. The
escort commander and his staff, the clergy, the national color detail,
and the personal flag bearer also reached the track by elevator but
the family group used a different route. On the platform, a joint service
honor cordon lined the way from the elevator to the funeral car in the
special train. After the family group and the escort commander and staff
took positions near the funeral car, the body bearers, preceded by the
national color detail and clergy, and followed by the personal flag
bearer, took the casket through the honor cordon and placed it aboard
the funeral car. The car was then sealed. The family group of about
150 people boarded the train, which departed for Washington at 0935.

The train was scheduled to reach Washington at 1335. A half hour ahead
of the arrival time, troops organized by the Military District of Washington
to participate in the arrival ceremony took position at Union Station.
(Table 26) From

[265]

TABLE 25-TROOP LIST, CEREMONY IN NEW YORK CITY FOR
FORMER
PRESIDENT HERBERT C. HOOVER

Troops

US Army

270

US Military Academy

200

US Marine Corps

100

US Navy

25

US Air Force

50

US Coast Guard

25

Total

670

Units

US Army

Headquarters and Headquarters Company, First US Army,
Governors Island, New York
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Fort Jay, New York
Company E, 1st Battalion, 3d Infantry, Fort Myer, Virginia
Headquarters, Fort Dix, New Jersey
Corps of Cadets, US Military Academy
US Military Academy Band

Track 17, on which the immediate family and funeral cars
would enter the station, a joint service honor cordon lined the platform
and station concourse to and through the east entrance. Waiting on the
platform along Track 17 were General Wehle, who was the escort commander,
the clergy, national color detail, personal flag bearer, and a joint
service body bearer team. In formation outside the station entrance
were the special honor guard, composed of the chairman and members of
the joint Chiefs of Staff; the US Coast Guard Band; the caisson and
caisson detachment from the 3d Infantry; and a 3d Infantry soldier with
a caparisoned

horse. Other troops, all from the 3d Infantry, included
a security cordon and a group to control members of the press.

Two elements of the military escort for the procession from Union Station
to the Capitol also were at the station in position to lead the way.
These were the commander of troops, Col. Joseph Conmy, Jr., commanding
officer of the 3d Infantry, and his joint service staff of five and
the US Army Band. The troop units themselves had begun to assemble at
noon on the three blocks of Delaware Avenue between the station and
the East Plaza of the Capitol, the route to be taken by the procession.
Since the distance was short, the troop units were to remain stationary
instead of marching in the procession. (Table 27)

The escort troops, organized as two march units, were on line along
the east side of the avenue, facing the center of the street. At the
north end of the line, adjacent to the Union Station Plaza, were the
first march unit commander (Army) and a joint service staff of five.
In order, to the south, were a company from each of the service academies;
a company each from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast
Guard; and a composite company of service­women. Next, to the south,
were the second march unit commander (Army National Guard) and a staff
of five representing the reserve components of all five uniformed services.
Below them was a company each from the Army National Guard, Army Reserve,
Marine Corps Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air National

[267]

TABLE 27-TROOP LIST, MAIN PROCESSION
IN WASHINGTON, DC,
FOR FORMER PRESIDENT HERBERT C. HOOVER

Duty

US Army

US Marine
Corps

US Navy

US Air
Force

US Coast
Guard

Total

Offi-
cers

En-
listed
Men

Offi-
cers

En-
listed
Men

Offi-
cers

En-
listed
Men

Offi-
cers

En-
listed
Men

Offi-
cers

En-
listed
Men

Offi-
cers

En-
listed
Men

Escort commander and staff

1

1

Special honor guard

2

1

1

1

1

6

Commander of troops and staff

2

1

1

1

1

6

National color detail

1

1

1

3

Clergy

1

1

Body bearers

1

2

2

2

2

2

1

10

Personal flag bearer

1

1

Caisson detail

4

33

Band

1

55

1

2

Military escort

11

Active

7

77

6

77

6

77

6

77

6

77

31

13

Cadet

5

77

5

77

5

77

5

77

20

12

Servicewomen

2

20

1

19

1

19

1

19

5

215

National Guard

6

77

6

77

12

Reserve

6

77

6

77

6

77

5

77

6

77

29

Saluting battery

1

14

1

Site control

6

6

5

5

1

5

7

Security cordon

2

79

2

79

2

79

2

79

8

Guides

2

2

2

2

Communications

5

Information desk

1

Total

43

497

17

262

22

339

28

416

19

233

129

1,747

Guard, Air Force Reserve, and Coast Guard Reserve. Completing
the line at the southern end were representatives of eight veterans'
organizations. (Diagram 86) On either side of Delaware Avenue
was a cordon of security troops to keep the route clear. To the west
of the avenue, the 3d Infantry battery was in position at Louisiana
Avenue and D Street where it was to fire a 21-gun salute as the procession
moved to the Capitol.

The funeral train reached Union Station at 1325,. ten minutes ahead
of schedule, but the timing of the ceremonies was not affected. President
and Mrs. John­son were on the platform to greet the Hoover family
when the funeral cars were brought in on Track 17. The group moved through
the honor cordon to positions outside the east entrance. The body bearer
team meanwhile removed the casket from the train and placed it on a
church truck. In procession, the escort commander leading, followed
by the national color detail, the clergy, the body bearers with the
casket, and the personal flag bearer, Mr. Hoover's body was taken be-

[268]

Diagram 86. Military escort formation.

[269]

tween the ranks of the honor cordon to the area outside the east entrance.
The members of the honor cordon presented arms in ripples as the national
color detail approached and ordered arms when the personal flag bearer
had passed. Outside, the procession moved to positions near the Hoover
family and waited. (Diagram 87)

As the procession halted, the honor cordon presented arms. The Coast
Guard

Diagram 87. Arrival ceremony, Union Station, Washington,
DC

[270]

PROCESSION LEAVES UNION STATION

Band then sounded ruffles and flourishes and played "Hail to the
Chief" and the hymn "The Light of God is Falling." On
the first note of the hymn, the national color detail moved to a position
in front of the caisson, and the body bearers, accompanied by the personal
flag bearer, transferred the casket from the church truck to the caisson.
When the casket was on the caisson, the band stopped playing, the honor
cordon ordered arms, and the procession formed for the move to the Capitol.

General Wehle, as escort commander, led the procession, followed by
the commander of troops with his staff, the Army Band, the special honor
guard in three limousines, and the national color detail, clergy, and
caisson. Following the caisson were the personal flag bearer, the groom
with the caparisoned horse, the Hoover family in two limousines, President
Johnson with a secret service escort, former Vice President Nixon, and
five cars of other dignitaries. Former Presidents Truman and Eisenhower
had planned to participate in the ceremonies, but illness prevented
their attendance. (Diagram 88)

As the column moved south on Delaware Avenue across the front of the
escort units, each escort company presented arms when the national color
detail was

[271]

Diagram 88. Order of march, Union Station to the Capitol.

[272]

PROCESSION MOVES ALONG DELAWARE AVENUE

twelve steps to the company's right flank and ordered arms when the
rear of the caisson passed the company's left flank. As the lead horse
pulling the caisson entered Delaware Avenue from the Union Station Plaza,
the 3d Infantry battery fired the first round of the 21-gun salute.
The rounds were spaced so that the last was fired when the caisson was
about to cross Constitution Avenue and enter the East Plaza of the Capitol.
As the caisson crossed the avenue, forty-eight Air Force jet fighter
planes in clusters of three passed overhead. When the cortege entered
the East Plaza, the commander of troops, Colonel Conmy, and his staff
and the Army Band continued to march until they were out of the ceremonial
area. The remainder of the cortege halted in front of the Senate wing
steps, which would be used in taking the former President's casket into
the Capitol. The main stairway leading directly to the rotunda could
not be used because inaugural platforms were under construction there.

Military formations not with the cortege but scheduled to participate
in the ceremony at the Capitol had taken position at 1400. (Table
28) A joint service honor cordon lined the Senate wing steps, and
the US Marine Band was in for-

[273]

CAISSON ARRIVES AT EAST PLAZA

mation on the plaza just to the left of the steps. Inside the Capitol
a joint service guard of honor was ready to post its first relief as
soon as the casket was placed on the Lincoln catafalque, which had been
set up in the center of the rotunda. Already in the rotunda were committees
representing the various departments and agencies of the federal government,
and representatives of the diplomatic corps.

By 1430 the Hoover family and others who had accompanied the procession
from Union Station were in their respective positions at the foot of
the Senate wing steps. (Diagram 89) At the signal of the site
control officer, the officer in charge of the honor cordon ordered his
troops to present arms. The Marine Band then sounded ruffles and flourishes,
played "Hail to the Chief," and began "America the Beautiful."
At the first note, the body bearers removed the casket from the caisson.
The escort commander, General Wehle, led the special honor guard up
the Senate wing steps to start the procession into the Capitol. Joining
the column in order were the national color detail, the clergy, the
body bearers with the casket, the personal flag bearer, the Hoover family,
and other mourners. When the procession had entered the Capitol, the
band ceased playing and the honor cordon ordered arms.

[274]

TABLE 28-TROOP LIST, ARRIVAL CEREMONY
AT THE US CAPITOL
AND LYING IN STATE PERIOD FOR FORMER PRESIDENT HERBERT C. HOOVER

Duty

US Army

US Marine
Corps

US Navy

US Air
Force

US Coast
Guard

Total

Offi-
cers

En-
listed
Men

Offi-
cers

En-
listed
Men

Offi-
cers

En-
listed
Men

Offi-
cers

En-
listed
Men

Offi-
cers

En-
listed
Men

Offi-
cers

En-
listed
Men

Escort commander and staff

1

1

Special honor guard

2

1

1

1

1

6

Honor cordon

1

13

13

13

13

13

1

65

National color detail

1

1

1

3

Clergy

1

1

Body bearers

1

2

2

2

2

2

1

10

Personal flag bearer

1

1

Band

1

91

1

91

Guard of honor

3

13

1

11

1

11

1

11

1

11

7

57

Wreath bearer

1

1

Site Control

4

11

4

11

Security cordon

1

22

1

22

Ushers

8

8

Guides

8

8

Floral detail

1

15

1

15

Traffic guides

12

12

Medical support

1

1

Total

15

107

3

118

2

27

2

27

2

26

24

305

Inside the Senate wing entrance, the body bearers placed the casket
on a church truck. The procession then continued through the east hallway
to the east entrance foyer to the rotunda. There the body bearers lifted
the casket from the church truck and the procession entered. Inside
the rotunda the Hoover family and other mourners were guided to positions
while the national color detail, clergy, and personal flag bearer accompanied
the casket as the body bearers carried it in a semicircular route to
the center of the rotunda and placed it on the Lincoln catafalque. The
Reverend Frederick Brown Harris, chaplain of the Senate, took a position
near the foot of the bier; the national colors and personal flag were
posted, the first relief of the guard of honor took position at the
bier, and the body bearers were dismissed. (Diagram 90)

Chaplain Harris delivered a short eulogy, after which President Johnson
placed a wreath at the base of the bier. Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Kenneth
L. Ames of the Military District of Washington pronounced the benediction,
concluding the brief rotunda ceremony a few minutes after 1500. While
the rotunda cleared, the Hoover family inspected the arrangements for
the lying in state period. After the

[275]

Diagram 89. Arrival ceremony at the Capitol.

departure of the family, the rotunda was opened to the public from 1530
until 2100.

On 24 October the rotunda again was opened to the public between the
hours of 0900 and 2100. Over the two days approximately 30,000 people
filed past the bier. Throughout the lying in state period the joint
service guard of honor maintained a constant vigil, changing reliefs
each thirty minutes.

On 25 October the last ceremonies in Washington for former President
Hoover were scheduled to begin at 0930. At that time the casket was
to be carried from the rotunda of the Capitol and taken in a motorized
procession to Washington National Airport, where a departure ceremony
would be conducted as the casket was put aboard an Air Force C-130 transport
for the flight to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Participating troops at both the Capitol and the airport were in position
by 0900. Those at the Capitol included the escort commander, General
Wehle, and a special honor guard, this time composed of two general
or flag officers from each of the uniformed services. A joint service
honor cordon again lined the Senate

[276]

CASKET IS CARRIED THROUGH JOINT HONOR CORDON

wing steps. The US Navy Band was in formation on the plaza to the left
of the steps. Waiting inside the Capitol were the body bearers, national
color detail, personal flag bearer, and Chaplain Ames. A hearse and
other vehicles for the motorcade also were in place on the plaza, and
the entire ceremonial area outside the Capitol was cordoned off by troops
to keep it clear. (Table 29)

The Hoover family group and other dignitaries began to arrive at the
Capitol at 0915. President Johnson, who was unable to attend the ceremony,
designated as his representatives Secretary of State Dean Rusk and Under
Secretary of Commerce Clarence D. Martin. By 0930 all of these participants
had been guided to positions at the base of the Senate wing steps. (Diagram
91)

At that hour, the guard of honor at the bier in the rotunda was dismissed,
and the body bearers secured the casket and placed it on a church truck.
Then the procession, with the national color detail and clergy preceding
the casket and the personal flag bearer following it, left by the east
door of the rotunda and moved down the east hallway to the Senate wing
entrance.
As the national color detail appeared in the doorway, the honor cordon
pre-

[277]

Diagram 90. Formation in the rotunda.

[278]

PRESIDENT JOHNSON PLACES A WREATH DURING CEREMONY IN
THE ROTUNDA

TABLE 29-TROOP LIST, DEPARTURE CEREMONY AT THE US
CAPITOL
FOR FORMER PRESIDENT HERBERT C. HOOVER

Duty

US Army

US Marine
Corps

US Navy

US Air
Force

US Coast
Guard

Total

Offi-
cers

En-
listed
Men

Offi-
cers

En-
listed
Men

Offi-
cers

En-
listed
Men

Offi-
cers

En-
listed
Men

Offi-
cers

En-
listed
Men

Offi-
cers

En-
listed
Men

Escort commander and staff

1

1

Special honor guard

2

2

2

2

2

10

Honor cordon

1

13

13

13

13

13

1

65

National color detail

1

1

1

3

Clergy

1

1

Body bearers

2

2

2

2

2

10

Personal flag bearer

1

1

Band

1

91

1

91

Security cordon

16

16

16

1

16

16

1

80

Floral detail

1

15

1

15

Total

6

47

2

32

3

123

3

32

2

31

16

265

[279]

Diagram 91. Departure ceremony at the Capitol.

sented arms. After the body bearers had taken the casket to the top
of the steps, they halted while the Navy Band sounded honors. When the
band started the hymn "Abide With Me," the body bearers lifted
the casket from the church truck and the procession continued down the
steps through the honor cordon to the hearse. After the casket had been
placed in the hearse, the music ceased, the honor cordon ordered arms,
and the Hoover family and others scheduled to accompany the cortege
to the airport entered their automobiles.

General Wehle occupied the lead vehicle of the motorcade. In the cars
behind him were the special honor guard followed by the hearse, then
cars carrying the Hoover family, President Johnson's representatives,
and other dignitaries. The motorcade reached the Military Air Transport
Service Terminal at Washington National Airport at 0955. (Diagram
92)

A street cordon lined the access road to the terminal, and at the airport
a security cordon ringed the ceremonial area to keep it clear. (Diagram
93) Inside

[280]

CASKET IS CARRIED FROM THE CAPITOL

this area the US Air Force Band was in formation and a joint service
honor cordon lined the way from the point at which the hearse would
stop to the air­craft itself. In a position near the ceremonial
area was the 3d Infantry saluting battery. (Table 30)

As the motorcade traveled the access road to the terminal, the members
of the street cordon presented arms individually when the hearse was
twelve paces away and ordered arms when it had passed. The 3d Infantry
battery fired the first round of a 21-gun salute as the hearse began
its passage through the street cordon; the remaining rounds were spaced
so that the last was fired as the hearse stopped in the ceremonial area.

After the hearse stopped, the body bearers, who, along with the national
color detail and personal flag bearer, had traveled from the Capitol
to the airfield separately to arrive ahead of the cortege, took position
at the rear of the hearse. The other vehicles in the cortege were driven
to a parking area on a ramp to the rear of the ceremonial area. The
passengers then dismounted and were guided to positions for the departure
ceremony.

[281]

Diagram 92. Route of march, Capitol to Washington National Airport.

When all participants were in position, the honor cordon presented
arms and the band sounded honors. As the band began the hymn "Now
the Day is Over," the body bearers removed the casket from the
hearse and in procession, the national color detail leading, the casket
and the personal flag bearer following, the casket was carried through
the honor cordon and aboard the plane. (Diagram 94) The music
stopped and the troops ordered arms. The ceremonial troops, except the
body bearers, national color detail, and personal flag bearer, then
marched away from the cordoned area.

[282]

Diagram 93. Street cordon, Washington National Airport.

[283]

TABLE 30-TROOP LIST, DEPARTURE CEREMONY AT THE
WASHINGTON
NATIONAL AIRPORT FOR FORMER PRESIDENT HERBERT C. HOOVER

Duty

US Army

US Marine Corps

US Navy

US Air Force

US Coast Guard

Total

Offi-
cers

En-
listed
Men

Offi-
cers

En-
listed
Men

Offi-
cers

En-
listed
Men

Offi-
cers

En-
listed
Men

Offi-
cers

En-
listed
Men

Offi-
cers

En-
listed
Men

Escort commander and staff

1

1

Special honor guard

2

2

2

2

2

10

Honor cordon

1

9

8

8

8

8

1

41

National color detail

1

1

1

3

Clergy

1

1

Body bearer

1

2

2

2

2

2

1

10

Personal flag bearer

1

1

Band

1

91

1

91

Street cordon

24

24

24

24

24

120

Saluting battery

1

14

1

14

Site control

3

3

Security cordon

1

78

1

78

Floral detail

1

15

1

15

Traffic guides

4

4

Parking detail

6

6

Press cordon

1

10

1

10

Baggage detail

10

10

Total

13

173

2

34

2

35

3

127

2

34

22

403

The body bearers, color detail, and flag bearer all boarded the plane
bearing the casket; they would participate in the ceremonies in Iowa.
After they were aboard, the plane was towed out of the area, and three
other aircraft were brought in to take aboard the Hoover family and
others, in all sixty-four people, making the flight to Iowa. The four
planes were airborne by 1030.

Lt. Gen. Charles G. Dodge, commanding the Fifth US Army, directed the
ceremonies in Iowa. To carry out his responsibility, he established
the Fifth Army Detachment at the Cedar Rapids Municipal Airport, staffing
it with officers and men from Army headquarters in Chicago and placing
it under his deputy commander, Brig. Gen. Joseph E. Bastion, Jr. Additional
officers for such functions as liaison and information were made available
from the XIV US Army Corps, which had headquarters in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Besides these staff members, the Fifth US Army Band participated in
the Iowa ceremonies. All other troops involved were provided by the
Iowa Army National Guard, as arranged through Maj. Gen. Junior Franklin
Miller, the Adjutant General of the state of Iowa. (Table 31)

For the arrival ceremony at the Cedar Rapids airport, a security cordon
of

[284]

CASKET ARRIVES AT WASHINGTON NATIONAL AIRPORT, above.
CASKET IS CARRIED TO THE PLANE, below.

[285]

Diagram 94. Departure ceremony, Washington National
Airport.

Army National Guard troops sealed off the area. These troops along
with the 34th US Army Band and General Dodge, the escort commander,
were in position at the airfield by 1300. Contrary to custom, no honor
cordon was organized for the arrival ceremony.

[286]

The four aircraft from Washington landed at Cedar Rapids shortly before
1400. The plane bearing Mr. Hoover's body, the body bearers, the national
color detail, the personal flag bearer, and floral tributes that had
been on display during the ceremonies in Washington was guided to the
proper position in the ceremonial area, while the three aircraft carrying
the family group and other mourners were parked near the terminal building
outside the area.

While the site control officer went aboard the plane to brief the body
bearers and color bearers, General Dodge and other escort officers guided
the family and friends to positions for the ceremony. As the body bearers
appeared at the door of the plane with the casket, the band sounded
ruffles and flourishes and played "Hail to the Chief." When
the hymn "Fight the Good Fight" was begun, the body bearers
carried the casket from the plane. The procession formed, with the national
color detail leading off and followed by Dr. D. Elton Trueblood, professor
of philosophy at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana, and a friend
of the Hoover family, the casket, and the personal flag bearer. (Diagram
95)

When the procession reached the hearse and the casket was placed inside,
the body bearers and color bearers immediately moved to vehicles reserved
for them at the edge of the ceremonial area. At the same time, floral
vans furnished with out charge by local funeral directors were driven
to the plane and loaded with the

[288]

flowers brought from Washington. Police then escorted these vehicles
to West Branch so that they would reach the gravesite ahead of the cortege.

Meanwhile General Dodge and escort officers ushered the family and other
mourners to their vehicles for the motorcade to West Branch. The procession
left the airfield about 1415, General Dodge leading, followed by the
clergy, the hearse, and the family and other mourners in thirteen limousines
also provided by local funeral directors. Moving over State Route 84,
US 218, and Interstate 80, the motorcade reached the gravesite a few
minutes after 1500. (Diagram 96)

On the grounds of the Herbert Hoover Library some 75,000 people had
assembled for the service. A security cordon of National Guard troops
surrounded the gravesite and a small group of Guardsmen controlled the
movement of members of the press. The Fifth US Army Band stood in formation
at the grave, and shortly before 1500 the body bearers and color bearers,
arriving from Cedar Rap­ids, joined the band. All were in position
for the ceremony when the procession entered the library grounds. (Diagram
97)

The cortege halted on the circular driveway at the library, with the
hearse

Diagram 96. Route of march, Cedar Rapids to West Branch, Iowa.

[289]

Diagram 97. Arrival of cortege at the Hoover Library.

standing at the pathway to the grave. General Dodge and his assistants
escorted the Hoover family and other mourners from their automobiles
to the hearse. When they were in place, the band sounded honors, then
played "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." As the hymn began,
the body bearers took the casket from the hearse. The procession then
moved to the grave, with General Dodge leading, and the national color
detail, clergy, body bearers with the casket, personal flag bearer,
the Hoover family, and other mourners following. Escort officers guided
the family group and other mourners to their positions at the graveside.
(Diagram 98)

Dr. Trueblood opened the service by asking for a period of meditation
and then offered a prayer. He next delivered a short eulogy at the end
of which he pronounced the benediction. General Dodge laid a Presidential
wreath at the head of the grave, and a bugler from the Fifth Army Band
sounded taps. A 21­gun salute had been scheduled but was canceled
at the request of the Hoover family. When the bugler finished, the body
bearers folded the flag that had draped the casket and presented it
to General Dodge, who in turn handed it to

[290]

CASKET IS CARRIED TO THE GRAVE ON GROUNDS OF HERBERT
HOOVER LIBRARY, above.
Dr. Trueblood conducts the burial service, below.

[291]

Herbert Hoover, Jr., concluding the final rites for former President
Hoover. At 1535 the family members and other mourners went to the cars
that would take them to the Cedar Rapids airport from which they would
leave for their homes.

After the library grounds were clear a security guard was posted at
the grave, which would not be sealed until the late Mrs. Hoover, who
had been buried in California, could be reburied beside her husband.
(This was accomplished on 31 October.) When the guard had taken post,
the public was permitted to file past the grave. At sunset on 25 October,
a winding line of people still was moving slowly past the final resting
place of the nation's thirty-first President.